Ozuki Airfield (Shimonoseki Army Airfield)
小月飛行場（下関陸軍飛行場）
A military airfield in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, built by the Ministry of Communications (1937–1940) and transferred to the Imperial Japanese Army in April 1940. During WWII, the 4th Sentai operated Ki-45 Toryu twin-engine fighters from Ozuki for homeland air defense, engaging B-29 bombers from the June 1944 Yawata raid onward. The 12th Air Division HQ was based here from July 1944. Post-war, the base passed through U.S./NZ occupation, police reserve, JGSDF, and JASDF hands before becoming a JMSDF installation in 1964. Today it serves as the Maritime Self-Defense Force's primary flight school operating Fuji T-5 trainers.
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History
Ozuki Naval Air Base traces its origins to June 1937 when the Japanese Ministry of Communications (逓信省) began construction of Shimonoseki Airfield on the Ozuki plain in what is now Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The facility was completed in March 1940 as a civilian airfield.
However, the following month — April 1940 — the Imperial Japanese Army requisitioned the airfield and renamed it Shimonoseki Army Airfield (下關陸軍飛行場). The 4th Sentai (Flying Regiment), equipped with Kawasaki Ki-10 biplane fighters and Mitsubishi Ki-15 reconnaissance aircraft, relocated here from Tachiarai Army Airfield in Fukuoka. In 1941, the facility was renamed Ozuki Airfield.
In April 1942, the 4th Sentai re-equipped with the Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu ("Dragon Slayer") twin-engine heavy fighter. In October 1942, the 19th Air Brigade HQ was established at Ozuki. As the war situation worsened, the 19th Air Brigade was elevated to the 12th Air Division (第12飛行師團) in July 1944, making Ozuki a divisional-level headquarters for regional air defense.
From the first B-29 raid on Japan — the June 1944 attack on the Yawata Steel Works — the 4th Sentai engaged in homeland air defense operations from Ozuki until the war's end. Notable actions included Sergeant Shigeo Nobe's unauthorized ramming attack on 20 August 1944 that destroyed one B-29 and damaged another; 2nd Lt. Miosaburō Yamamoto's Ki-45 ramming attack on 18 April 1945; and Sgt. Maj. Tsutomu Murata's ramming on 7 May 1945. Warrant Officer Sadamitsu Kimura was credited with eight confirmed B-29 kills before his death in July 1945. In total, 69 pilots from the base died in combat.
After Japan's surrender, U.S. and Royal New Zealand Army units occupied Ozuki from April 1948. The U.S. requisition was lifted in March 1950. In September 1950, the National Police Reserve established a training center here, which transitioned to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The base was then transferred to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, with the 1st Flying Training School relocating from Hamamatsu on 1 April 1956.
On 25 July 1964, Ozuki was transferred to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The Ozuki Air Training Group was established on 25 March 1965. Today, the base is the JMSDF's sole operator of the Fuji T-5 primary trainer aircraft and serves as the entry point for all Maritime Self-Defense Force aviation cadets. The 201st Air Training Squadron conducts fixed-wing basic flight courses here.
A "Foundation of Peace Monument" (平和之礎碑) was erected on 8–9 May 1993 at Renseiji Temple near the base's main gate, honoring the 69 pilots who died in combat. The bronze plaque lists each serviceman's name, squadron, home prefecture, and date of death.